Of all the immense physical match-ups that make Saturday’s must-win game for England against New Zealand in the Gillette Four Nations such an enticing prospect, the battle between the heavy-hitting Sam Burgess and equally uncompromising Fuifui Moimoi shapes up as the most compelling.

The pair’s duel in Huddersfield two years ago was a case of round one to Burgess, an 18-year-old debutant for Great Britain in their 2007 series whitewash of the Kiwis, whose one shuddering tackle on Moimoi, in particular, has become a favourite on YouTube.

Moimoi, wiped out by the Bradford Bulls teenager’s ferocious two-handed shove, picked himself up on that occasion, but was led off dazed and stunned after another bell-ringer by Burgess that was recklessly high, for which the youngster was fortunate only to be put on report. Such was the impact, the Tongan-born New Zealand prop was unable to eat solids for three days.

To say that there is “previous” between the two is to put it mildly. The hulking Burgess, 20, whose "reunion" with Moimoi has been deferred because he missed last year's World Cup with a shoulder injury, is hitting harder in the tackle now, if that is possible. Certainly, one or two Australians can testify to his prowess after their 26-16 win over England on Saturday, when Burgess’s influence off the bench served to heighten interest Down Under in the “Pommie kid”, who leaves after the series for a new life with South Sydney Rabbitohs in the NRL.

Moimoi, ten years Burgess’s senior, has enjoyed an outstanding year with Parramatta Eels and led from the front during New Zealand’s opening 20-20 draw at the Twickenham Stoop with Australia 12 days ago, in which the sport’s physical intensity was taken to a level never seen in the northern hemisphere.

“Fui is a completely different person to the one who came here two years ago,” Stephen Kearney, the New Zealand coach, said. “Perhaps in 2007, he didn’t really grasp what he had to do to be successful. His form throughout the season shows his preparation and application are right up there now. There are going to be collisions. You’ve only got to look at the way Fui plays. It may be Sam, it may be Adrian [Morley], it may be Jamie [Peacock], but it’s going to happen.”

As for the rematch at the Galpharm Stadium, Moimoi said this week: “I’m not going to go after him [Burgess]. I’m going to do what’s best for the team. If he’s there, I’ll let you know. It’ll be on. He’s a good player, a big, young player, but I’m ready.”

Burgess, who will discover today whether he starts the match or will again be used for impact as a substitute, said: “I think every team is looking to get that big hit on . . . I’ll be aware of it, I’ll be watching myself.”

Thomas Leuluai, of Wigan Warriors, the only British-based player in the New Zealand squad, will get a close-up view at hooker of the forward battle that he believes will decide which team will almost certainly face Australia in the final on Saturday week. “Fui definitely won’t take a step backwards and neither will Sam,” Leuluai said. “Sam’s big and strong and he’s playing well at the moment. It’s going to be a good contest between those two. I’ll try and stay out of it.”

According to James Graham, the England prop, New Zealand represent a more physical proposition than Australia. “If you look at their pack, it’s full of big guys and there are some very strong outside backs who are going to take some carries as well,” he said. “They showed against Australia and France that they’re not taking this competition lightly and they want to build on the success of the past few years they’ve had.”

New Zealand will be without the Leeds Rhinos-bound Greg Eastwood, a member of their World Cup-winning pack last year, after a scan yesterday revealed that the 23-year-old suffered a broken scaphoid in a wrist during Saturday’s 62-12 victory over France in Toulouse.